Author Archives: Gaurav Sood

This two-story pick-up rooftop tent gives you a vantage point to live and stargaze

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The overlanding experience in your pick-up only gets better with an efficient and functional truck topper. And when that truck camper is a two-story complex with its own awning and touch of a button control; you can think, but won’t want to own anything else!

Inquisitive? Wild Land has come up with an interesting idea of Safari Camper, which is more than every day pick-up bed camper. After giving us the world’s first wireless remote-controlled rooftop tent, the Chinese overland product manufacturer has revealed the remote-controlled Safari Camper that rests on the truck bed and gives us a two-story tent to sleep and play on the press of an open button. Shutting it close is equally easy: Press close!

Designer: Wild Land

The Safari Camper is designed for the Chinese market and is already available there, state wise delivery is still in oblivion at the time of writing. That said, what intrigues an adventurer’s attention is the Safari Camper’s unique automatic lift system that opens from truck bed top to two stories to accommodate a few people easily. The lift is kicked into action from a keychain remote control – a little manual intervention is required to flip a few extensions – and you have a truck bed section and a high-perched rooftop tent above.

Of course, the kind of height the upper rooftop tent has, it is going to be somewhat vulnerable to the winds. But that little peril hasn’t stopped Wind Land from packing ample interior space here. The tent is accessed via a ladder from the pick-up bed and it has a 5.6-foot headroom extendable using the fold-out tent floor extensions on the front and back –pulled down manually – that increase sleeping space. The mesh windows in the tent offers 270-degree views, while the openable skylight lets you stargaze when the surroundings are engulfed in darkness.

The Safari Cruiser weighs about 250 kg, and rests on the top of the truck’s bed rails. When it’s closed it rests comfortably on the pick-up’s shell and can carry about 30 kg load of your adventure gear. At camp when you open it, in addition to the top tent, you have a second low tent below which doesn’t have much headroom and can be used as a kid’s room or for dining and lounging.

Interestingly, the top rooftop tent is laid with a 30W solar panel to power the LED lighting and lift system battery. Attached to the lower section is a 360-degree awning that provides shade from the sun and gives additional living space just outside, which can be fun at the beach or when fishing in the lake.

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LEGO McLaren MP4/4 with Ayrton Senna minifig arriving in March to grace F1 fans’ shelves

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Ayrton Senna is the undisputed legend of motor racing and he could have achieved timeless greatness (not that he has already not achieved the feat) hadn’t it been for that fateful corner at the Imola Circuit in Italy during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Hence, Ffor a Formula-1 fanatic, any memorabilia or piece of history that recalls the legend’s memories is a prized possession.

For such fans, LEGO Speed Champions and Technic lineup will add to the proud collection in the form of the McLaren F1 MP4 Ayrton Senna LEGO set. The set comprising of 693 pieces will go on sale from March 1, 2024 for a suggested price tag of $80. Highlight of this set is the Senna minifigure on a podium holding the winner’s trophy with a plate displaying the photo and quote,  alongside the McLaren in action mode.

Designer: LEGO Group

The main focus here is the successful F1 MP4/4 car powered by the Honda turbocharged engine that was used during the 1988 Formula 1 season. Ayrton alongside his teammate Alain Prost pushed this beast to its limits in a spectacle of racing craft dominating the competition winning 15 out of the 16 races during the season. Ayrton stole the limelight with eight wins for the team, securing his place as the world champion, while Alain just missed the bar winning seven races.

The MP4/4’s reliability and pure performance made it one of the most dominant cars in the history of F1 to date. Of course, one can attribute that feat to the skill of Ayrton who showed some of the most mind-blowing driving craft during the season. Coming back to this LEGO build, it looks like Shell is again on good terms with the LEGO Group after a lull of a decade. You can spot the Sheel and Honda logos while the controversial Marlboro branding has been given a pass.

The 1:8 LEGO model is 553 mm long, 257 mm wide, and 125mm high. It comes with functional suspensions, a steering wheel, a V6 engine, a turbo compressor (with intercooler radiators), snorkels and exhaust blowing under the rear diffuser. What more could you ask for?

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MSI Gaming PC Watch is a dragon red themed, full-fledged rig for your wrist

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Smartphones and laptops allow us to play games on the move. But that’s not always enough, especially when the world demands you to be ready and operative no matter the time or place. In such a scenario, you need a gaming rig that is an integral part of everyday life, keeping you always ready. Here, MSI Gaming PC Watch offers an instrumental solution.

A gaming rig for your wrist; the Gaming PC Watch takes a full-fledged MSI computer and shrinks it to the size of a wearable so you can strap it to your wrist and be game-ready every time. Designed in MSI dragon red theme, the watch PC does not have specifications to detail, but from what we see in the pictures, the system is complete with the branding and transparent façade.

Designer: Eslam Mhd

The wrist PC does not intend to be a watch, it has very subtle annotations on the right where analog watch hands are visible and the four pushers on the sides to toggle the features. From the word go, it is a wearable computer and the innards – fans, graphics, cooling, motherboard – all visible right through the watch face. The case appears to be made of some metal alloy with MSI logo at 3 o’clock, where you usually find a crown on a typical wristwatch.

Smartwatches have come of age; they are almost wearable smartphones for the wrist. Despite their acceptance and demand, smartwatches haven’t caught on like smartphones did a decade ago. The idea of amazing smartwatch innovation could maybe shift from smartphone ideology to computer periphery, and who knows things may just take off. At least the MSI Gaming PC Watch’s design makes me believe in the concept.

MSI is already a world leader in gaming and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) solutions. It has some of the fanciest gaming computers and laptops that thrive on powerful hardware, good cooling systems, high-end graphics, and bewildering RGB lighting. It is only fitting for the tech giant to put its mettle behind the idea of a watch PC and see it through. Given MSI’s well-built and durable designs through the years, the wearable gaming rig too will give you the features and ability to access data and exchange information anywhere, anytime.

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Home Court arcade basketball game is closest way to satiate your desire of playing on the hardwood

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Your game room could already have billiards, pool, or table tennis equipment. The more enthusiastic may even slot in an artificial climbing wall or mount a frisky basketball arcade gaming machine to shoot an odd ball during your trip to the room. But the latter is not anywhere close to the experience of a basketball game on an indoor hardwood court.

If you’re a fan, the home court basketball pictured above could be the closest way to satiate your desire to play on the hardwood. The sleek glass enclosure with a wooden backboard and rebound board slanting just below is designed for the home champs to compete with the sounds and feel of being on the court.

Designer: Reigning Champ

A collaborative product created by Reigning Champ and Canadian industrial designer Calen Knauf, the Home Court, as it is called, is a fully functional game arcade for an in-home basketball experience. A highly crafted work of art, it is made with the use of wood, glass, and metal, which play in harmony to replicate the authentic feel of playing on a hardwood court.

To minimize the visual footprint, and make the game portable, the contraption rests on four rubberized wheels. The frame is made of metal, which durably holds tempered glass walls – three full on the sides, back and half on the front – of the rig. The backboard holding two rings and the ball rebound surface located below are specifically made from engineered composite wood panels that replicate the auditory quality of the ball hitting the wooden court.

On the front of the arcade, the half-glass wall is where the balls are collected during the game. And when you’re done playing, the spacious lower tier – with a wooden floor – serves as storage for balls. Home Court is made-to-order and comes flat-packed to your doorstep. Presently, Reigning Champ is only shipping it to the US and Canada for $50,000, leaving us in the east wondering when we can sell off our home to own a Home Court and play and live in it happily thereafter.

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Strictly limited Hublot MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium is futuristic time teller with vertical display

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There are a few in the haute horlogerie that do futuristic, fiercely unconventional timepieces like the MB&F. The LVMH Watch Week is a place of reckoning for the best watchmakers, and it’s here that we see them going beyond the usual. Hublot for 2024 has gone seriously unconventional with the novel MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium watch that sways afar with its display and functioning.

Over the years timekeeping machines in the higher echelons have evolved from analog and digital to the other variants of time telling. An example of such futuristic watches is the new Hublot which has a wraparound sapphire crystal over what you would consider the dial, revealing all the innards of the skeletonized movement components. This interesting layout ensures even the otherwise unorthodox time-telling is super legible.

Designer: Hublot

MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium’s interesting layout is designed in a way that the watch with its fluid, natural movement has to be read from top to bottom. The vertical time display is the first of its type for the Swiss luxury watchmaker complemented by an oversized micro-blasted titanium case emitting innovation from the first look.

The casing measures 41.5mm wide and 54.1mm from lug to lug. The watch has an integrated lug design with an otherwise large crown at 12 o’clock. The casing of the MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium is little a talking point. The standout here is the most technically complex crystal wrapped around the watch sides. On the one side, you can see the 6 o’clock tourbillon, while the visible vertical movement can be seen running through from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock.

On the top of the watch face is the rotating hours scale with the rotating minutes display just alongside. Fascinating however is the power reserve indicator just below, which has red and green indication for movement winding and seconds. The MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium is equally compelling within where the brand’s in-house HUB9013 automatic tourbillon movement runs the show. Comprising 592 pieces, the inventive movement offers 48-hour power reserve and beats at the rate of 21,600 bph.

For me personally, the caseback of the Hublot Tourbillon is more enticing than the front. The simple transparent caseback has a side cutout to accommodate the crown and tourbillon, and gives a nice view of the brushed and matte blasted skeleton bridges. MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System Titanium watch paired with an integrated black rubber strap is only 30-meter water resistant; if that is not much of a concern, you can get one of the exclusive 50 watches for 250,000 CHF or $290,000 each.

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With single-piece fiberglass shell, Bean Stock 2.0 is most capable ultralightweight off-road teardrop trailer

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Teardrop trailers have their own drive and dwelling convenience on the road. This is distinguishable from other forms of camping solutions for their size, weight, and price. There are a number of lightweight teardrop trailers adventurers have been using to their advantage but not many have the grit to go off the paved roads with equal expediency. Presenting a light and robust solution for the needs is the new Bean Stock 2.0.

Designed by Bean Trailers, founded in 2016 by Mark and Brian, who have been designing trailers with durability and minimalism in mind, the Bean Stock 2.0 is another rugged and lightweight teardrop trailer that can take the habitants to pretty much anywhere they desire.

Designer: Ben Trailers

I said there are three primary advantages that teardrop trailers carry over the other camping rigs, and the Bean Stock 2.0 fits the bill with its fiberglass body that renders the tiny trailer lightweight at 1,175 lbs. The construction ensures the trailer is fundamentally affordable in its stock variant yet its ruggedness makes it a capable off-roader. How is that possible is discussed further in the article.

The teardrop has a one-piece fiberglass shell with composite honeycomb side walls, while the former is not customary, the latter is a prerequisite in Bean Trailers’ models. Bean Stock 2.0 given the solid, lightweight design is built for the toughest and roughest trails. To that accord, the structure is slimmer and capable of being towed behind any small SUVs like the Subaru Forester, Ford Escape and similar.

The stock model of Bean Stock 2.0 is off-road ready with 2,000-pound HD suspension and 15-inch wheels. But it is the customizable option that allows    3,500-pound suspension and bigger tires with more ground clearance that add to the off-track capability. All the features are nothing without the interiors you want to be in after a long day’s drive. The Stock 2.0 is equally fashioned inside also, which absolutely revolves around the 60-inch x 80-inch queen-sized mattress facing a wide window filling the living space with natural light during the day, the warm-tone recessed lighting keeps the ambiance lifted after the sun goes down.

For all its wonderful features and interesting design, the Bean Stock 2.0 is available in a choice of 18 different colors. The entry-level variant of the rugged teardrop trailer starts at $15,999 and the customizable option with all add-ons onboard spikes the price to over the $20,000 mark.

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Olympian Motors’ electric SUV slated for Q2 2024 release, teases Cybertruck with AR windshield and a retro-futuristic design

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Fusing the past into the future sounds like the best prospect for an electric vehicle in a landscape filled with ultra-futuristic EVs is a refreshing change. Olympian Motors is set to achieve what most motorheads will appreciate down to the core. Their Model 84 electric vehicle is the first ever rear-wheel electric convertible in the United States with an augmented reality heads-up display.

While you won’t get that first impression of tech-infused features in this retro-futuristic vehicle, you’ll be proved wrong. The projector on the windshield gets rid of the contemporary 2D digital screen and replaces it with an advanced HUD interface. According to the New York-based company, they’ll start deliveries by Q2, 2024 and only 310 units of this four-seater roofless EV will be produced in the first phase.

Designer: Olympian Motors

The car targets a niche segment of users who want to go beyond the limits of owning a performance electric SUV. That I say because Cybertruck has been all over the internet these past few months (years I should say) revealing its unparalleled pros but also exposing what’s not that impressive. The Model 84 is boxy and a little less sharp in its aesthetics, evoking the inspirational design of the iconic Land Rover that has been the definition of safari vehicles for decades.

The body is made out of forged titanium and military-grade carbon fiber which both provide security assurance in case of an accident. The use of the former means the vehicle is lightweight enough to not stress the electric drivetrain which will need every possible battery-conserving feature it could benefit from. Another safety feature is the inclusion of nine airbags.

The SUV can go from 0-60 miles per hour in a mere 8.1 seconds courtesy of the 340 HP engine, meaning it has loads of torque for that initial kick. The top speed of the Model 84 can hit 160 miles per hour and a figure of 335 miles on a single charge is also achievable thanks to the 89 kWh motor.

While the convertible safari vehicle is best utilized for four travelers, the two back seats can be removed for carrying luggage. It also comes with a glass canopy and laminated windows keeping in mind the possibility of windows shattering in shards which could prove fatal. On the inside the boxy EV gets exotic woods, cashmere and silk materials instead of the usual cheap plastics and veneer made out of toxic chemicals.

Even though it uses luxurious materials and high-tech features, the Model 84 favors minimalism more than anything else. Remember that AR heads-up display, in a way gets rid of those chunky dashboard buttons and switches. The focus here is on hands-free operation via voice commands to control everything from HVAC, seats and doors to the lighting systems.

As per Olympian Motor, the EV will be initially only sold in the US without any confirmation of any plans to export or produce it elsewhere. An asking price tag of $70,000 is right there competing with the Cybertruck, so it’ll liven up the competition once we see it going toe-to-toe with the Tesla monster in real-world conditions. Will it be better at tackling the snowy roads, well only time will tell. Pardon me, for that pun, but I had to tease Tesla for all that’s worth it!

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This Concorde aircraft inspired shooting brake EV boasts aerodynamic design for performance and good looks

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Concorde passenger airliner shook up the aviation world when it burst into the scene in 1976. Developed and manufactured in collaboration between the United Kingdom and France, the commercial aircraft was at a level of its own with speeds 2x sound speed. Unfortunately, due to high operating and maintenance costs, the aircraft was finally retired in 2003.

Because you could zip across the Atlantic Ocean, to go from New York to London and vice versa in just three and a half hours, the Concorde deserved more than it got. But that’s a part of history now, and Concorde isn’t returning for supersonic commercial aviation. The next best thing is to take inspiration and design a four-wheeled electric speed monster to commemorate the legacy of the airliner.

Designer: Christopher Giroux

Inspired by the aircraft this shooting break concept is exactly what the usual world of automotive concept designs needed. The 3-seater performance electric car dubbed Concorde 20+ Celebrates the legacy of the sound speed barrier-breaking aircraft commissioned for commercial purposes. There’s just one seat on the front for the pilot and two rear seats for the rich owners who enjoy the luxury of a spacious cabin all to themselves.

The active aero elements on the outside and the inside not only tweak the peak performance at high speeds but also bring a sense of fluid design to the vehicle. Just like the Concorde aircraft, the electric car is built for high-speed skirmishes on the freeway, letting the owners know it’s not meant to be driven in cruise mode.

That front pointy section with the futuristic LED panel headlights has a close resemblance to the aircraft honed by the windshield wrapped over the hood. As you can see from some of the side profile renders, the resemblance in shape flowing from the front to the back is so Concorde-like. The long shooting brake design not only maximizes interior space but also adapts the airliner’s overall aero aesthetics. Jump to the rear profile and, the futuristic element is ever so present there too.

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Death Stranding edition Backbone One controller sports a pee-colored semi-transparent body shell

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Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is coming to iOS devices later this month and you’ll need a sharp gamepad to have the tactical advantage in-game. Backbone has got you covered on that front with a BackBone One Death Stranding Limited Edition controller. This comes on the back of the recently unveiled second-generation version of the highly rated USB-C controller for the iPhone 15 and Android controller.

Now the brand has collaborated with the developer of the highly anticipated title to develop a unique-looking gamepad that for you could either be a golden bliss or a piece of piss! That’s because the color is so peculiar, you’ll have your own subjective opinion on it. By the way, this is not the first time such a controller has made its first appearance since there was a DualShock 4 in the same hue.

Designer: Backbone One

Death Stranding is coming to iOS and Mac on January 30, 2024, and on the very same day, Backbone will make the special edition controller available for purchase in the United States. Playing this crazy haunted open-world title with touchscreen controls is going to be difficult, so if you own the iPhone 15 series, you are better off getting this mobile controller before the stock runs out. The new version (limited edition and standard one) has incremental upgrades including magnetic adapters for an ergonomic fit and a revamped D-pad.

The controller is inspired by the peaking technologies of 2000, explaining the transparent plastic casing that exposes the hardware inside. That hue somehow reminds me of the portable jars for carrying Bridge Babies around. While the front sports a cool transparent yellowish hue, the rear has a more standard solid yellow-orange and graphite color scheme.

Get this limited edition Backbone One mobile controller for $150 and you’ll suit yourself to the free iOS download code for the game. Also, the USB-C connection should be good for connectivity with Android devices.

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Ultra luxurious superyacht doubles as a submersible capable of 820 feet deep underwater exploration for four weeks

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Discerning Billionaires who want to own the best super vessel to navigate the seas in style brace up for the Migaloo M5 superyacht. Labeled as the future of yachting, this $2 billion high-end vessel by the Austrian-based Migaloo is twice more expensive than the current costliest superyacht, the Lürssen Dilbar at $800 million.

The hyper-luxurious seacraft would still be out of the reach of many billionaires even and that’s what makes it special. Measuring 544 feet long and 75 feet wide, the M5 is a heaven on water for the 20 guests and 40 crew members. But that’s not where the surprises stop, it is also capable of diving to a depth of 820 feet and making an underwater stay for four weeks!

Designer: Migaloo

There’ll be more than anyone can bargain for to do on their extended holiday trips thanks to the two custom Midget submarines, two submersibles, a helicopter, jet skis, kite surfing and paddle boarding activities. This will be possible with the plethora of water toys that the superyacht will carry along including five Sea-Doo Jet-Skis, Seabobs, ROVs. UUVs, Zapata Racing flyboards, hoverboards, and everything else you need for paddleboarding, kitesurfing, and kayaking. Land expeditions when docked on shore are also not out of the question with the two expedition vehicles and pickup trucks.

According to Migaloo, they are ready to deliver the kind of amenities and interiors depending on the client’s requirements and personal taste. To scratch the surface these include a jaw-dropping dining room that can accommodate a party of 36 people, a tech-savvy cinema hall, swimming pools, a jacuzzi, a curated wine cellar, panoramic glass walls for stunning views en route the journey, and the most eye-popping expandable beach club you’ll ever see.

M5 fitted with a hybrid propulsion engine (diesel and AIP) will have a range exceeding 9,300 miles with a surface speed of 20 knots and 12 knots underwater exploration. According to Migaloo CEO Christian Gumpold, safety is their major concern after the Titan submersible’s unfortunate tragedy. To this end, finding prospective buyers was a challenge and they are looking for visionary billionaires who have “extraordinary demands for exclusivity, safety, adventure.”

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